A much-improved performance from Liverpool and a deserved victory, but…
…in winning 4-2, Liverpool played some great football and scored great goals, but their lack of intensity and professionalism in the final quarter was unforgivable. Spurs, who for an hour were dreadful, were given hope when the game became akin to basketball and Liverpool simply stopped running.
It was Mo Salah, restored to the starting 11, who put Liverpool in front. A far-post header, from a Cody Gapko cross securing the Egyptian’s 18th league goal of the season. It was soon two-nil with a tap in for Andy Robertson, but Liverpool continue to waste far too many chances.
Perhaps Liverpool were a little unlucky, having struck the woodwork yet again, whilst a goal-line clearance also prevented a third. Yet, lacking conviction and over playing at times, they let Spurs off the hook and it really should have been more than a two-goal margin at half-time.
Those expecting Tottenham to begin the second-half with a little more conviction themselves soon saw Liverpool rampant. Gapko, involved throughout, putting his side three up with a header from a Harvey Elliot assist, before Elliot himself scored the fourth. Picking up the ball to the right of the D, he danced across the front of the penalty box before curling a ‘worldy’ to the top corner.
However, four-nil up and, following a couple of substitutions, Liverpool fell apart. They stopped running, they stopped playing forward and stopped closing down a Spurs team who took the shackles off. Richarlison in particular, ran behind an increasingly static defence, whilst standing off Son always invites trouble.
Richarlison brought some respectability to the scoreline on 70 minutes and, with more than ten minutes left, Son, a perennial scorer at Anfield, added the visitors’ second. Suddenly, flashbacks to last season’s Anfield encounter, when Spurs drew level after being three behind, looked like being repeated. Of course, Liverpool had chances themselves, but were again profligate in front of goal and only last ditch defending by substitute Joe Gomez kept the score at 4-2.
In truth, both Liverpool and Spurs got what they deserved from this game. Liverpool for an hour resembled what we’ve come to expect under Klopp – relentless, pressing high, aggressive with and without the ball. Likewise Spurs were soft away from home and far too open in their approach.
Jurgen, serenaded throughout the match as the home crowd went through almost their entire repertoire of songs, has just one more game at Anfield. In advance of that fixture versus Wolves, Liverpool visit Aston Villa. Surely by then even the remaining mathematical possibility of winning the Premier League will have gone, but irrespective of whether Liverpool now finish third this league season, May 19th at Anfield promises to be a day to remember.
